Adjustable bearing lock and lubrication seal for can seamer

ABSTRACT

Adjustable bearing and locking means for a free turning seam forming rollers of a can closing machine including a pair of tapered roller bearings between the seaming roller and its pin mount together with threaded bearing retaining and clamping screw and means for looking the same in adjusted position relative to the pin and lowermost race of the tapered roller bearings.

United States Patent [1 1 Costanzo July 3, 1973 [54] ADJUSTABLE BEARING LOCK AND 1,340,842 5/1920 Small 113/119 LUBRICATION SEAL FOR CAN SEAMER 1,561,307 11/1925 Brenzinger 1 13/24 E 1,574,764 3/1926 Tevander 113/24 EC [76] Inventor: Samuel P. Costanzo. 926 W st 2,993,457 7/1961 Geeson et a1. 113/24 Evelyn Avenue, Sunnyvale, Calif.

Primary Examiner-Richard .1. Herbs! [22] Filed: May 25, 1972 Attorney-Leslie M. Hansen [21] Appl. No.: 256,787

I [57] ABSTRACT (g1. Adjustable bearing and locking means for a free [58] Field 24 24 A ing seam forming rollers of a can closing machine in- 113 /2 4 D 2 EB 24 eluding a pair of tapered roller bearings between the F 24 24 i seaming roller and its pin mount together with threaded bearing retaining and clamping screw and means for 56] References Cited looking the same in adjusted position relative to the pin UNITED STATES PATENTS and lowermost race of the tapered roller bearings.

1,348,650 8/1920 Kronquist et a1. 113/24 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE BEARING LOCK AND LUBRICATION SEAL FOR CAN SEAMER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention has to do with can closing machines and is particularly directed to the bearing structure of the seaming rolls thereof and an adjustable bearing lock therefor.

The can closing machine may be of any well known construction such for example as described and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,348,650 which issued to Kronquist et al. on Aug. 3, 1920. In general a can closing machine is provided with a turret having a plurality of stations wherein cans with lids loosely placed thereon arrive in sequence for the purpose of gradually forming a tightly closed seam between a can and its lid as they pass around a track beneath the turret. The can with lid loosely placed is first engaged by a seaming chuck on the turret by which chuck the lid is firmly pressed against the flanged open end of the can. Each chuck is drivingly connected by gear mechanism of the machine so as to rotate the can and lid as they pass from station to station of the turret. At each of the seam forming stations there is seaming roller mounted on an offset arm and cam operated into pressing engagement toward the seaming chuck. The seaming rollers have an outer surface contoured to cooperate with the surface of the rotating chuck to change the shape of the lid and can flange by cam pressure. The cam pressure is applied in three stages I, II, and III as illustrated in FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawing. The seaming rollers are free floating, i.e., journaled on anti-friction bearings between the seaming roller and a spindle shaft suspended from the cam operated offset arm.

The use of anti-friction bearings between the seam forming surface of a seaming roller and its spindle is not basically new. The relationship between the seaming roller and its spindle is, however, very critical when it comes to continuous and untroubled operation under the excessive pressures required to form a good tight seam between a can lid and a can. Heretofore, the bearings required periodic care and insertion of shims to take up any deviations caused by wear, any slight deviation or wobble of the seaming rollers materially effected the condition of the seam being formed thereby. Any condition beyond correction by shimming required shut down and of the can closing machine and replacement of seaming rollers.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a seaming roller bearing and locking means therefor which is simple and yet effective for maintaining the delicate and critical stability of the rollers to assure perfect and acceptable seaming of the lids to the cans.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide in a seaming roller head and mount a bearing structure adapted for ease of adjustment short of complete removal and disassembly of the seaming roller unit.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple yet effective means for locking the bearing struc- 'These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following de scription and claims when read in the light of the accompanying single sheet of drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional detail through a seaming roller embodying the adjustable bearing lock and lubrication seal of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view taken at line 2-2 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail partially in elevation taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a modified form of head on the locking screw of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section through FIG. 4};

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a modified form of adjustable bearing lock in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section through FIG. 6 taken along line 7-7 therein.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of locking key adapted for use in the form of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 shows diagrammatically the three principle stages I, II and III in the forming of a seam between a can lid and the flanged open end of a can.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION As previously pointed out in the background of the invention a seaming roller unit generally designated 10 comprises a hardened steel seam forming roller 11 journaled for free rotation on a spindle shaft or pin 12.

The pin 12 has its upper end secured to an offset arm 13 on a cam operated shank l4 suspended from a turret of the can closing machine in a conventional manner. For further details on this phase of the mechanism reference may be had to the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. l,348,650. In general the seam forming roller 11 has a periphery 15 contoured to fit against a companion surface on a seaming chuck 16 (FIGS. 1 and 9). The seaming chuck 16 bears down upon a can lid L for pressing the latter firmly against the flanged open end of a can C for rotating the latter to accomplish the seaming operations. As the cans travel with the turret the seaming roller units 10 are cam actuated into pressing engagement with the can and lid rotated by the seaming chuck 16.

The peripheral surface 15 of each seaming roller 11 is grooved in a particular manner as at 17 for each stage I, II and III of the seaming operation. Each seaming roller 11 is journaled on its respective mounting pin'12 for free rotation upon engagement with the can and lid as they are rotated by engagement with the seaming chuck 16. To this end an antifriction bearing structure 18 supported on the end of the mounting pin 12 has an outer race press fit against the internal wall 19 of the seaming roller 11 to assure free rotation of the latter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention the bearing structure 18 must be susceptible to adjustment. For this reason the adjusting feature of this invention includes, as a part of its embodiment, roller bearings of the tapered type on the order of those known in the trade as TIMKEN" roller. bearings. While such tapered type roller bearings are well known in the art their application and use in seaming rollers as shown in the present disclosure in combination with the adjusting feature of the present invention is more advantageous than former type bearings as will become apparent in the ensuing description and claims.

Referring to FIG. 1 the entire seaming roller unit is set as a unit vertically relative to the offset arm 13 on the cam operated shank 14, to position the grooved periphery of the seaming roller 11. This is accomplished by threaded connection 20 between the arm 13 and the pin 12 and the securing of the latter by means of a binding bolt 21 therebetween. Approximately midway the upper and lower ends of the pin 12 the latter is provided with a flange 22 or shoulder against which an inverted cup-like cover 23 is disposed to bear. The cover 23 is concentric to the pin 12 and has a downturned peripheral wall 23 which forms a closure about the upper extremity of the periphery of the seaming roller 11. The bearing structure 18 of the present invention includes two counteracting tapered roller bearings 24 and 25. The upper bearing 24 has an inner race 24-I mounted on the pin 12 against the cover 23 and an outer race 24-0 press fit against the inner surface of the seaming roller 11. The outer race 25-0 of the lower bearing 25 is likewise press fit against the inner surface of the seaming roller 11. The outer races of the two bearings 24 and 25 are separated by an expansion ring 26 set into the inner surface of the seaming roller 11. The inner race 25-I of the lower bearing 25 is slidably mounted concentrically on the pin 12. Between the inner and outer races of each of the bearings 24 and 25 are a plurality of rollers tapered toward the expansion ring 26 by which they are separated. It should here be noted that the inner races of the two bearings 24 and 25 are thereby separated a greater distance than the inner races relative to the expansion ring 26. Moreover, the extreme lower surface of the inner race 25-I of the lower bearing 25 is disposed beyond the lower extrem ity of the pin 12.

In accordance with the present invention the inner race 25-l of the lower bearing 25 is engaged by a bearing retaining and clamping washer 28. This washer 28 has a central opening 29 countersunk to receive the head of a bearing clamp screw 30. The bearing clamp screw 30 has a shank 31 threaded to fit the inside threading 32 of a bore 33 axially of the pin 12. It should here be noted that the inside threading 32 in the bore 33 extends longer than the threaded shank 31 of the screw 31. Moreover, the countersunk entrance 33-E of the bore 33 is set in sufficiently to assure full pressure of the countersunk head of the screw 30 against the bearing and retaining washer 28. In this manner the retaining clamp washer is adjustable to the desired pressure between the respective races I and O of the two bearings 24 and 25 so they can be set to assure true, non wobble rotation of the seaming roller 11 relative to the pin 12. This setting must be maintained and in accordance with the present invention locking means 35 provided for that purpose will now be explained.

ADJUSTABLE BEARING LOCK The locking means 35 for the adjustable retaining and clamping means28-31 for the bearings is provided on the pin 12 and within the axial bore 33 which is provided lengthwise therethrough. The locking means 35 comprises a rod 36 disposed axially of the opening or bore 33 in the pin 12 and means 37 at the upper end of the pin for securing the rod 36 firmly against the upper-inner end of the shank 31 of the bearing retaining clamp screw 30.

More specifically, the preferred form of locking means 35 (FIGS. 1 through 6) comprises a rod 36 which may have an enlarged threaded end 38 threadedly secured in a tapped end 39 of the bore 33 adjacent the open upper end thereof. This threaded end 38 may well be independent of the rod 36 but constructed to bear tightly against the upper end of the rod 36 to press the lower end thereof tightly against the bearing retaining and clamping screw 30 as previously explained to prevent unscrewing of the latter relative to the pin 12. In the alternative the locking means 35 may be provided as shown in FIG. 6 by having only the lower end of the rod 36 thereof threaded as at 31 to fit the internal threading of a central sleeve 32' having a flared or flanged lower or external washer like end 28' which bears against the lowermost surface of the inner race 25-l of the lowermost bearing 25 of the bearing structure 18. The enlarged upper end 38 of the rod 36' is provided with a socket type recess as is the upper end 38 of the preferred form to enable tightening of the locking means 35 in a conventional manner.

In the modified form shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 the threaded connection between the rod 36' and the retaining and clamping washer 28' may be accomplished by the use of a cotter pin (FIG. 8) extending through slots 39 formed through the head 38 at quadrantal points and through the pin 12 at that level at hexagonal zones (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 7 this arrangement may be locked against rotation by a spring wire clip 40 which partially circumscribes the outer periphery of the pin 12 within the threaded connection 20 thereof with the offset arm 13 upon which it is mounted;

As a further assurance of holding the bearing structure 18 in adjusted position the retaining and clamping washer 28 may be provided with a detent 41 extending axially inward of its countersunk opening 29. This detent 41 is adapted to extend into a recess 42 formed in the extreme lower face of the pin 12 to prevent rotation of the washer 28 relative to the pin 12. In combination with the latter the countersunk head of the clamp screw 30 can be joined with the retaining and clamping washer 28 by securing them together by center punch tap as at 45 in FIGS. 4 and 5. This particular setting may be upsettable manually by turning of the screw shank 31 or the screw rod 31 to adjust the bearing structure 18 at any time when wear and tear demands to assure absolute alignment of the seam forming rollers 11 with the can lid and can as presented by the revolving can engaging seaming chuck 16 of a can closing machine.

LUBRICATION FEATURE AND SEAL THEREFOR Means for lubricating the bearing structure 18 within the unit 10 comprises a series of passages provided within the pin 12. A first passage 51 extends diametrically across the pin 12 in the upper region thereof for communication with a grease or oil valve fitting (not shown) extending through the offset arm 13 in a manner well known in the art. As observed in FIG. 1 the locking pressure rod 36 (or 36', FIG. 6) is ofa reduced diameter in comparison with the axial bore 33 in the pin 12. This provides a cylindrical space 52 around the rod 3636 which space is in communication with the passage 51 to receive lubrication therefrom. Adjacent the lower end of the rod 36 a radial bore 53 extends from the space 52 to an axial bore 54 which extends downwardly and through an axial bore 55 in the bearing retaining and clamping screw 30.

In the case of the modified structure shown in FIG. 6 the lubrication is fed from the space 52' therein via a bore 53' which extends radially therefrom into communication with the bearing structure 18 substantially midway the upper and lower bearings 24 and 25 thereof.

The lubrication supplied to the bearing structure is confined within the seaming roller unit 10 by a dish-like cap 56. This cap 56 has a depressed central portion 57 of a diameter substantially the same as the inner race 25-I of the lower bearing 25. The marginal edge 58 of cap 56 circumscribing the depressed portion 57 has an upturned flange or annular side wall 59 which fits snugly against the inner surface of theseaming roller 11. The flange 48 is disposed to pressLagainSI a neopreme O-ring 60 set into a groove provided on the inner surface of the seaming roller 11 for sealing engagement therewith. The cap 56 thus disposed is secured in place by an expansion locking ring 61 which expands into an annular groove 62 formed on the inner surface of the seaming roller 11. The groove 62 is so disposed as to press the flange 59 of the cap firmly against the O ring 60 and to position the bottom surface of the depressed portion 57 of the cap in the plane of the lower extremity of the seaming roller 11. By this arrangement the lubrication is sealed within the seaming roller unit 10 and the latter freely rotatable upon the pin 12 during the seam forming operations illustrated in FIG. 9.

Should the seaming roller 11 become misaligned horizontally with respect to the can lid and seaming chuck or in the event of wobble due to wear of the bearing 18 an adjustment can be made in accordance with the present invention.

To adjust the bearing structure 18, the cap 56 is first taken off by constriction and removal of the expansion locking ring 61 from the groove 62. Next, the threaded upper end 38 abutting the rod 36 is backed off to release the pressure against the bearing retaining and locking screw 30. The screw 30 can then be adjusted to take up any play in the bearing structure 18 after which the locking means 35 is again set by tightening down the threaded upper end 38 of the rod 36.

In the case of the modified form shown in FIG. 6 the procedure is the same except that the spring clip 40 or cotter pin is removed from the upper end 38 of the rod 36' therein to enable tightening of the external washer like end 28' against the inner race 25-] of the lowermost bearing. Thereafter, the cotter pin or spring clip 40 is again applied as aforesaid to lock the rod 36' against turning.

In either case, the cap 56 is again set with its upturned flange 59 in sealed relation with the O-ring 60 and locked in place by the expansion ring 61 relative to the groove 62 in the seaming roller 11.

Having thus described the adjustable bearing and locking means therefor in specific detail it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the same may be susceptible to alteration, modification and/or variation without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention therein as called for in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In a can closing machine seaming roller unit of the type having a seaming roller joumaled on a pin shaft suspended from an offset cam actuated lever oscillatable toward and from a seaming chuck pressingly holding a can lid upon the flanged open end of a can for rotation therewith; an adjustable bearing and locking means for such seaming roller comprising in combination:

1. a shoulder formed on such pin shaft;

2. a cup-like cover mounted in inverted condition concentrically of and against the shoulder of said pin shaft;

3. a bearing structure having an inner race mounted on said pin shaft for bearing relation against said cup-like cover and an outer race press fit against the inner surface of said seaming roller for free turning movement with the latter;

4. a bearing retaining and clamping washer concentric to said pin shaft and bearing against the inner race of said bearing structure; and

5. threaded means secured to said pin shaft and having bearing relation against said bearing retaining and clamping washer for drawing the latter tightly against the inner race of said bearing structure.

2. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 1 including means for locking said threaded means against turning movement relative to said pin shaft.

3. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 2 in which the means for locking said threaded means against turning movement relative to said pin shaft comprises:

1. a countersunk bore concentrically of said retaining and clamping washer;

2. a clamping screw having a countersunk head disposed in the countersunk bore of said retaining and clamping washer and having a threaded shank threadedly connected to said pin shaft; and

3. means between said pin shaft and said retaining and clamping washer for locking said clamping screw against rotation relative thereto.

4. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 1 in which the threaded means comprises a clamping screw concentrically to said pin shaft for securing said retaining and clamping washer firmly against the inner race of said bearing structure.

5. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim l in which said bearing structure comprises:

1. an upper bearing having an inner race mounted on said pin shaft for hearing relation against said cover and an outer race press fit against the inner surface of such seaming roller;

2. a lower bearing having an outer race press fit against the inner surface of such seaming roller and an inner race mounted on said pin shaft in spaced relation to inner race of said upper bearing and for engagement by said bearing retaining and clamping washer for adjusting said bearing structure relative to said pin shaft and seaming roller; and

3. means in said pin shaft securable in said pin shaft and engageable by said threaded means for locking the latter against turning movement relative to said pin shaft.

6. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 5 in which the threaded means thereof comprises:

1. an axial bore formed concentrically of said pin shaft and having internal threading adjacent the lower end thereof; and

2. a bearing retaining and clamping screw having its shank portion threaded into the internal threading of said pin shaft for securing said retaining and clamping washer tightly against the inner race of said lower bearing.

7. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 6 in which the means for locking said threaded means against turning movement relative to said pin shaft comprises:

1. an internal bore formed axially of and through said pin shaft;

2. a rod arranged in the internal bore in said pin shaft;

and

3. a threaded set screw between the upper end of said pin shaft and said rod for pressing the latter firmly against the shank of said bearing retaining and clamping screw.

8. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 7 in which said rod is of lesser diameter than the internal bore formed axially of said pin shaft to provide a lubrication passage therein; means for communicating said lubrication passage with said bearing structure; and, a lubricant retaining cap removably secured to the seaming roller beyond said bearing retaining and clamping washer and screw.

9. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 8 in which said lubricant retaining cap includes an external flange press fit against the inner surface of said seaming roller, and a sealing ring press fit into the inner surface of said seaming roller in engagement with the external flange of said lubricant retaining cap.

10. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with claim 9 including an expansion locking ring, and an annular groove formed in the internal surface of said seaming roller in the plane of said retaining and clamping washer for engaging and removably securing said lubricant cap in sealing engagement with said sealing ring. 

1. In a can closing machine seaming roller unit of the type having a seaming roller journaled on a pin shaft suspended from an offset cam actuated lever oscillatable toward and from a seaming chuck pressingly holding a can lid upon the flanged open end of a can for rotation therewith; an adjustable bearing and locking means for such seaming roller comprising in combination:
 1. a shoulder formed on such pin shaft;
 2. a cup-like cover mounted in inverted condition concentrically of and against the shoulder of said pin shaft;
 3. a bearing structure having an inner race mounted on said pin shaft for bearing relation against said cup-like cover and an outer race press fit against the inner surface of said seaming roller for free turning movement with the latter;
 4. a bearing retaining and clamping washer concentric to said pin shaft and bearing against the inner race of said bearing structure; and
 5. threaded means secured to said pin shaft and having bearing relation against said bearing retaining and clamping washer for drawing the latter tightly against the inner race of said bearing structure.
 2. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 1 including means for locking said threaded means against turning movement relative to said pin shaft.
 2. a bearing retaining and clamping screw having its shank portion threaded into the internal threading of said pin shaft for securing said retaining and clamping washer tightly against the inner race of said lower bearing.
 2. a cup-like cover mounted in inverted condition concentrically of and against the shoulder of said pin shaft;
 2. a rod arranged in the internal bore in said pin shaft; and
 2. a lower bearing having an outer race press fit against the inner surface of such seaming roller and an inner race mounted on said pin shaft in spaced relation to inner race of said upper bearing and for engagement by said bearing retaining and clamping washer for adjusting said bearing structure relative to said pin shaft and seaming roller; and
 2. a clamping screw having a countersunk head disposed in the countersunk bore of said retaining and clamping washer and having a threaded shank threadedly connected to said pin shaft; and
 3. a threaded set screw between the upper end of said pin shaft and said rod for pressing the latter firmly against the shank of said bearing retaining and clamping screw.
 3. means in said pin shaft securable in said pin shaft and engageable by said threaded means for locking the latter against turning movement relative to said pin shaft.
 3. a bearing structure having an inner race mounted on said pin shaft for bearing relation against said cup-like cover and an outer race press fit against the inner surface of said seaming roller for free turning movement with the latter;
 3. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 2 in which the means for locking said threaded means against turning movement relative to said pin shaft comprises:
 3. means between said pin shaft and said retaining and clamping washer for locking said clamping screw against rotation relative thereto.
 4. a bearing retaining and clamping washer concentric to said pin shaft and bearing against the inner race of said bearing structure; and
 4. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 1 in which the threaded means comprises a clamping screw concentrically to said pin shaft for securing said retaining and cLamping washer firmly against the inner race of said bearing structure.
 5. threaded means secured to said pin shaft and having bearing relation against said bearing retaining and clamping washer for drawing the latter tightly against the inner race of said bearing structure.
 5. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 1 in which said bearing structure comprises:
 6. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 5 in which the threaded means thereof comprises:
 7. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 6 in which the means for locking said threaded means against turning movement relative to said pin shaft comprises:
 8. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 7 in which said rod is of lesser diameter than the internal bore formed axially of said pin shaft to provide a lubrication passage therein; means for communicating said lubrication passage with said bearing structure; and, a lubricant retaining cap removably secured to the seaming roller beyond said bearing retaining and clamping washer and screw.
 9. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with that of claim 8 in which said lubricant retaining cap includes an external flange press fit against the inner surface of said seaming roller, and a sealing ring press fit into the inner surface of said seaming roller in engagement with the external flange of said lubricant retaining cap.
 10. The adjustable bearing and locking means in accordance with claim 9 including an expansion locking ring, and an annular groove formed in the internal surface of said seaming roller in the plane of said retaining and clamping washer for engaging and removably securing said lubricant cap in sealing engagement with said sealing ring. 